Handling working pieces in liquids in dental technology

ABSTRACT

Work pieces are treated in pickling liquids especially in dental technology and gold and silver forging for deoxidation purposes. The workpieces are arranged in a removable container swingingly mounted on the cover of the bath apparatus. This avoids the necessity of using material handling equipment such as forceps and tongs.

United States Patent 'Lea Apr. 1, 1975 HANDLING WORKING PIECES INLIQUIDS [56] References; Cited IN DENTAL TECHNOLOGY UNITED STATESPATENTS [75] Inventor: Hans Lea, Frankfurt, Germany 1,479,236 1/1924Heidbrink 21/100 1,884,181 /1932 Pauly 134/183 x [73] Assgnee- DFmSche P2,572,983 10/1951 Burtwell-s 134/183 x sllber'scheldean'stalt Y2,806,123 9/1957 Steinbeck, Jr. 134/201 x Roessler, Frankfurt/Mam,Germany 3,041,212 6/1962 B66111 134/154 x 4 3,430,553 3/1969 Di Pietro99/355 X [22] Flled' 1973 3,444,868 5/1969 Hungerford et a1. 134/143[21] Appl. No.: 410,550

Related US Application Data Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge [62]Division or Ser. NO. 291,166, Sept. 22, 1972, Pat. Agent or Flrm cushmanDarby &

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data ABSTRACT Nov. 26, 1971 Germany2158637 Work pieces are treated in pickling liquids especially in dentaltechnology and gold and silver forging for [5 U- C deoxidation purposes.The workpieces are arranged in 134/9 43, 134/l54 a removable containerswingingly mounted on the [51] Int. Cl B08b 3/04 cover of the bathapparatus. This avoids the necessity Field of Search of using materialhandling equipment such as forceps 134/135, 143, 154, 183, 201; 99/355;21/95, and tongs.

O 4 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 3 u i 1 q 1 HANDLING WORKING'PIECES INLIQUIDS IN DENTAL TECHNOLOGY This is a division of application Ser. No.291,166, filed Sept. 22, 1972, now US. Pat. No. 3,793,076.

In dental technology and in gold and silver forging technology it isnecessary to deoxidize oxidized workpieces of base metal containingnoble metal alloys by casting, brazing or annealing. Generally, for thispurpose there are used simple ceramic containers, for example porcelaincasseroles, which are filled with a suitable pickling liquid. Therequired heating of the pickling liquid takes place over the flame of abunsen burner or on an electric hotplate. After the pickling theworkpiece must be taken out of the hot pickling liquid with tongs orforceps. In this procedure there is the danger of the formation of agalvanic cell which leads to a copper deposit on the workpiece. Remnantsof such copper deposit can, for example, in noble metal working indental technology bring about disagreeable discolorations in the mouthof the patient. A further disadvantage of this process is the escape ofacid vapors injurious to health and corrosive to the iron tools.

It has now been found that the disadvantages of the known processes canbe avoided by having the deoxidation take place in a closed apparatuscontaining the pickling liquid in which the work pieces to be pickledare arranged in a removeable container which is fastened in swingingfashion to the cover of the apparatus. This construction permits theuser to completely eliminate the additional material handling equipmentsuch as forceps, tongs and the like whose disadvantages are describedabove.

The workpieces for the pickling are placed by hand in the containermounted in swingable manner on the cover of the apparatus and togetherwith the container are lowered into the pickling liquid. Thereupon thecover of the apparatus joined to the swingable container returns inguided manner to its closed position and closes the apparatus so tightlywith its sealing ring during the pickling process that no vapor of thepickling fluid can escape outside.

After the end of the pickling process, the user raises the cover of theapparatus high whereby in guided manner, the workpieces arranged in theswingable container are removed from the pickling liquid. During theseprocesses the pickling fluid which is found in the container in thepickling process flows back through openings on the bottom side of thecontainer in the apparatus. By a hand motion the user turns the cover ofthe apparatus 180 so that the bottom side of the cover is arranged belowthe container with the workpieces. In this situation the bottom side ofthe cover serves as a collecting vessel for residues of the picklingfluid still dropping from the container. In this position the user goeswith the workpieces to a water tap with a discharge basin. I-Ie swingsthe cover about 90 over the discharge basin with a hand motion and cannow cleanse the pickled workpieces in the flowing water jet fromremaining residues of pickling liquid.

A further possibility in rinsing the workpieces is that the user of theapparatus instead of employing the flowing water jet employs a preparedvessel containing water. In this case he swings the cover of theapparatus about 180 by a hand motion after which he can likewise bringabout an appropriate rinsing by alternating immersion in and raising ofthe container above the water bath.

In both cases after the rinsing process for the return of the workpiecesto the working place the cover of the apparatus is so turned by a handmotion that its bottom side comes to rest under the container with theworkpieces. Thus, the water dropping from the container or from theworkpieces is caught on the bottom side of the cover.

At the working place the now pickled and cleansed workpieces can bewithdrawn from the container with the fingers, again without utilizationof assisting apparatus such as tongs or forceps and the further workingcan be carried out. The flat top side of the cover makes possibleassembly at the working place so that both hands are free.

A further characteristic of the invention is that the pickling fluidcondensing on the relatively cool bottom side of the cover is returnedagain into the deoxidation vessel.

The single FIGURE of the drawing is a crosssectional view of anapparatus for carrying out the invention.

Referring more specifically to the drawing there is provided a container1 for a bath, e.g., a pickling bath consisting of sulfuric acid oranother pickling agent.

The container is heated by a heater 7. Inside the bath container 1 thereis situated another container 2 which contains workpieces, e.g., dentaltools. The container 2 is swingingly connected with the cover 3 bysupport 4. The container 2 in its bottom has openings 5 through which itis guaranteed that the pickling fluid can flow around the workpieces tobe treated.

After the pickling the cover is raised up whereupon simultaneously thecontainer 2 is removed from the pickling fluid. Since the container 2 isswingably mounted on the supports 4 the: person undertaking the workingprocess can bring the treated workpieces in the range of his sight byswinging the container 2 and thereby control whether the surfaceproperties of the treated pieces are unobjectionable.

In the pickling process in the heated pickling bath there takes place anevaporation of the liquid. It is undesired that this vapor reach theworking space. For this reason it is suitable to condense this vapor onthe relatively cool surface of the bottom of the cover and return itagain into the bath container 1. Therefore, there is provided anadditional conical inner cover 6 on whose surface a substantial part ofthe evaporated liquid condenses and then flows back again into the bathcontainer 1. A supplementation of the pickling liquid is practically notnecessary because the vapor developed condenses again in the apparatusand is returned into the bath container 1.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus suitable for treating workpieces with a liquid, such as thede-oxidizing of dental workpieces with a liquid pickling bath, saidapparatus comprising a first container for containing the liquid,

a second smaller container for supporting the workpieces,

cover means operable to be disposed in closing relation to said firstcontainer and to be removed therefrom, said cover means including aninterior wall having a central conical portion disposed with its apexextending toward said second container for condensing vapors from thepickling liquid, and

means for connecting said second container to said cover means formovement of said second container with said cover means in supportedrelation therewith and for swinging movement of said cover means withrespect to said second container between an operative position whereinsaid cover means is disposed in closing relation with said firstcontainer and said second container is supported therebelow within theliquid contained in said first container and a drop receiving positionwherein said cover means is removed from closing relation with saidfirst container and inverted with respect to its position therein andsaid second container is supported thereabove.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said cover means includes anouter cover member having a generally flat top side and an annular wallwithin which said interior wall is disposed.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first container includesan upwardly and inwardly facing frustoconical surface at the upperportion thereof and said cover means includes an annular seal forengaging said surface when said cover means is disposed in closingrelation with said first container.

4. Apparatus suitable for treating workpieces with a liquid, such as thede-oxidizing of dental workpieces with a liquid pickling bath, saidapparatus comprising a first container for containing the liquid,

cover means operable to be removed therefrom,

a second smaller container for supporting the workpieces, and

means for connecting said second container to said cover means formovement of said second container with said cover means in supportedrelation therewith and for swinging movement of said cover means withrespect to said second container between an operative position whereinsaid cover means is disposed in closing relation with said firstcontainer and said second container is supported therebelow within theliquid contained in said first container and a drop receiving positionwherein said cover means is removed from closing relation with saidfirst container and inverted with respect to its position therein andsaid second container is supported thereabove, said connecting meanscomprising a support having an annular portion connected adjacent thejuncture between said annular wall and said interior wall and extendingtoward said second container and a pair of arm portions extending fromsaid annular portion at diametrically opposed positions thereon andaxially aligned portions and said second container.

1. Apparatus suitable for treating workpieces with a liquid, such as thede-oxidizing of dental workpieces with a liquid pickling bath, saidapparatus comprising a first container for containing the liquid, asecond smaller container for supporting the workpieces, cover meansoperable to be disposed in closing relation to said first container andto be removed therefrom, said cover means including an interior wallhaving a central conical portion disposed with its apex extending towardsaid second container for condensing vapors from the pickling liquid,and means for connecting said second container to said cover means formovement of said second container with said cover means in supportedrelation therewith and for swinging moVement of said cover means withrespect to said second container between an operative position whereinsaid cover means is disposed in closing relation with said firstcontainer and said second container is supported therebelow within theliquid contained in said first container and a drop receiving positionwherein said cover means is removed from closing relation with saidfirst container and inverted with respect to its position therein andsaid second container is supported thereabove.
 2. Apparatus as definedin claim 1 wherein said cover means includes an outer cover memberhaving a generally flat top side and an annular wall within which saidinterior wall is disposed.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid first container includes an upwardly and inwardly facingfrustoconical surface at the upper portion thereof and said cover meansincludes an annular seal for engaging said surface when said cover meansis disposed in closing relation with said first container.
 4. Apparatussuitable for treating workpieces with a liquid, such as the de-oxidizingof dental workpieces with a liquid pickling bath, said apparatuscomprising a first container for containing the liquid, cover meansoperable to be removed therefrom, a second smaller container forsupporting the workpieces, and means for connecting said secondcontainer to said cover means for movement of said second container withsaid cover means in supported relation therewith and for swingingmovement of said cover means with respect to said second containerbetween an operative position wherein said cover means is disposed inclosing relation with said first container and said second container issupported therebelow within the liquid contained in said first containerand a drop receiving position wherein said cover means is removed fromclosing relation with said first container and inverted with respect toits position therein and said second container is supported thereabove,said connecting means comprising a support having an annular portionconnected adjacent the juncture between said annular wall and saidinterior wall and extending toward said second container and a pair ofarm portions extending from said annular portion at diametricallyopposed positions thereon and axially aligned pivot pin means betweenthe free ends of said arm portions and said second container.